The corporate owner of Food Lion grocery stores announced the closure of 126 stores across the Southeast, including seven in the Upstate. The impact extends far beyond the stores themselves.

Delhaize America made the announcement Thursday, citing strategic actions to strengthen its U.S. portfolio by repositioning its brand and growing its Bottom Dollar stores.

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One hundred thirteen underperforming Food Lion stores will close, Delhaize said. The company will also retire the Bloom grocery store brand.

Delhaize will also discontinue operations of its distribution center located in Clinton, Tenn., and will no longer operate Food Lion stores in Florida, but will continue operations of its Sweetbay and Harveys banners in the state.

The company is increasing its density of Food Lion stores in other states by converting Bloom and Bottom Dollar Food stores to Food Lion, specifically in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. After the changes take place, Food Lion will operate in 10 states and have 1,127 stores.

"Today's actions will continue to solidify our U.S. operations and enable our company to focus on our successful brand strategy repositioning at Food Lion and the expansion of Bottom Dollar Food in new markets," said Ron Hodge, CEO of Delhaize America.

"While these were difficult decisions given the impact on our associates, customers and communities, we believe these actions will enable us to better serve our customers in our markets with high density, while positioning the company for future growth," he said.

All affected stores will close within 30 days, and store conversions will begin immediately, according to Delhaize.

Food Lion President Cathy Greg Burns said, "By closing underperforming stores, we will continue to position Food Lion for success, especially in light of our brand strategy results We look forward to accelerating the Food Lion strategy and bringing the strategy to life in an additional 600 to 700 stores."

As a result of the closures and changes, about 4,900 associates will be let go. Delhaize America said it will provide severance to eligible associates, and will work with government officials to assist with transition support. The company is encouraging affected employees to apply for open positions within the company. Delhaize said most employees at the stores that are undergoing brand conversions will continue in their positions.

The company is also encouraging associates to apply for open positions within the company. Most associates working at converted stores will continue to work at those locations, Delhaize said.

The staff and customers aren't the only ones affected.

"We had Winn Dixie down here. When they closed, it was like a ghost town here. So, probably about the same thing's going to happen," said Kim Whiteside, owner of Cedar Springs Style & Tan in Spartanburg, which is in the same shopping center as a Food Lion store that's closing. "I'm surprised, really surprised."

Whiteside told News4's Mike McCormick that she believed that the store feeds her business. She and her employees also shop there on a daily basis.

"It's very convenient," said Whiteside.

The Cedar Springs store also welcomed the students from the nearby South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind.

"I was actually in the process of setting up some sign language classes for Food Lion employees and management. They've wanted to come in and build a bigger partnership," said culinary arts teacher, Angela Collier. "We went there maybe every other week to shop there."

Collier also took her students to the store for hands-on lessons.

"I pray for the best for them," Collier said. "We learned a lot and there's really no way to repay [them] for what [they] have done."

Collier said the partnership between the school and the store was just beginning, so now she'll be looking for other grocery stores that would like to help the students.